Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

iAbout This Scheme

Universalised across India in 1980 after a pilot from 1978, IRDP was the flagship anti-poverty programme of the 1980s and 1990s. It provided subsidised bank loans for self-employment to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families for activities like animal husbandry, small business, and cottage industry. At its peak it covered all 5,000+ development blocks and assisted millions of families annually. It was subsumed into the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) in April 1999.

🎁Key Benefits

• Subsidised bank loans for self-employment (25-50% subsidy element)
• Coverage of agriculture, allied sectors, cottage industries, and services
• Preferential access for SC/ST, women, and disabled beneficiaries
• Linkage with TRYSEM for skill training
• Insurance coverage under Janshree Bima Yojana

✅Eligibility Criteria

• 1
  Scheme discontinued — historical archive only

📝How to Apply

❓Frequently Asked Questions